Al Sermeno/KLC photos

Cal visits Wake Forest for the first time on Friday.

The California football team travels to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on Friday for the 5:00 PM PT kickoff against Wake Forest. The Golden Bears (4-4,0-4 ACC) and Demon Deacons (4-4, 2-2 ACC) meet on the football field for the first time in history.

FRIDAY LINEUP
Location: Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium (Winston-Salem, North Carolina)
Time: 5pm PT
Television (ACCN): Jorge Sedano (play-by-play), Orlando Franklin (analyst), Morgan Uber (sideline)
Cal Bears Sports Network powered by Northern California Toyota Dealers: 810 hours
Justin Allegri (play-by-play), Mike Pawlawski (analyst); SiriusXM Ch. 371 SXM App 371, the Varsity App

CAL…

– Plays Wake Forest for the first time in history and travels for his third road game in the Eastern time zone this season.
– Has outscored opponents 212-138 with his four wins by an average of 20.75 points per game and his four losses by an average of 2.25 points per game.
– Plays its first game of the season in November after winning the final three games of the 2023 regular season during the month.
– Ranks top 16 in the nation in six statistical team categories related to turnovers, including second in turnover margin (+1.63 per game), tied for third in interceptions (14), tied for fourth in fewest passes intercepted ( 3), tied for third in interceptions, fifth in turnovers lost (5), tied for sixth in turnovers gained (18) and tied for 16th in fumbles lost (2).
– Has only five giveaways in 2024, after 28 giveaways in 2023, which was fourth nationally.
– Won the turnover battle in six games this season (UC Davis, at Auburn, San Diego State, at Pitt, NC State, Oregon State) and tied the other two (at Florida State, Miami).
– Has at least one takeaway in 43 of last 46 games and 10 consecutive games.
– Capitalized on his turnover success with a 47-13 point turnover advantage.
– Ranked in the top 30 nationally in a total of 17 other team categories, including rushing defense (9th, 99.0 ypg), team passing efficiency defense (12th, 109.47), scoring defense (13th, 17.3 ppg) , first downs defense (T16th, 140), punt return defense (18th, 3.64 ypr), kickoff returns (21st, 24.71), net punting (22nd, 41.89 avg), completion percentage (22nd, 67.2 ), sacks (T26th, 2.63 spg), red zone defense (T29th, 77.8%) and passing offense (30th, 266.0 ypg).
– Leads the ACC in first down defense, passes intercepted, scoring defense, team scoring efficiency defense and turnover margin while tying the conference lead in fewest passes intercepted.
– Has a defense that is allowing just over half the points per game it allowed in 2023, dropping the 32.8 ppg allowed a season ago to the current 17.3 ppg.
– Has held his last two opponents to a total of 89 yards rushing (29 vs. NC State, 60 vs. Oregon State)
– Has not allowed more than 144 yards in a game this season
– Outscored opponents 61-8 in the third quarter.
– Has scored a TD on the opening drive in each of the last three games (at Pitt, NC State, Oregon State).
– Coming off team highs of 44 points, a 37-point winning margin, 364 passing yards and 478 yards of total offense in the most recent game against Oregon State, while allowing a season low of 200 yards of total offense to the Beavers .

NATIONALLY REMARKABLE

– D.B Nohl Williams leads the nation with six interceptions and is tied for second with one interception-return touchdown and one kickoff-return touchdown. Williams also ranks 13th with 10 passes defended.
– D.B Cam Sidney is tied for fifth with two fumbles.
– ILB Teddy Buchanan ranks ninth in tackles per game (9.6) and 18th in total tackles (77).
-P Lachlan Wilson is 11th in scoring average (45.8 ypp).
– OLB Xavier Carlton ranks 13th in sacks per game (0.88) and 13th in total sacks (7.0).
– QB Fernando Mendoza is 16th in completion percentage (68.5%), 20th in completions per game (22.25) and passing yards per game (261.9), and 29th in passing yards (2,095).
– ILB Cade Uluave is 21st in tackles per game (9.1).

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